Roseanne Barr is making her return to scripted television eight years after Disney-owned ABC fired the legendary comedian from her enormously successful Roseanne revival. This time, however, Barr is doing things on her own terms, assembling a recognizable Hollywood cast and independently financing an entirely new comedy series.
According to an exclusive report from Page Six, Barr has completed production on Meemaw, an eight-episode sitcom filmed in Austin, Texas. The production features Randy Quaid, Drea de Matteo, Omar Gooding, and Doug Jones, alongside guest appearances from several prominent comedians.
The project marks Barr’s most significant attempt to return to traditional television comedy since her highly publicized departure from ABC in 2018.
Perhaps most notably, Barr managed to complete the entire production without the backing of a major television network or Hollywood studio.
Roseanne Barr Brings Together a Familiar Hollywood Cast
Meemaw follows Barr as the matriarch of a multiracial family of survivalists living in Texas. Her character is determined to organize an extravagant bat mitzvah for her granddaughter while becoming involved in a scheme to dismantle a criminal enterprise.
The series is described as semi-autobiographical, incorporating elements of Barr’s Jewish upbringing and her experiences living in Texas.
Randy Quaid portrays Barr’s husband, while The Sopranos actress Drea de Matteo plays her daughter. Omar Gooding, whose television credits include Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper, portrays her son-in-law.
The supporting cast includes Doug Jones, whose extensive career includes appearances in Hellboy, Pan’s Labyrinth, and Star Trek: Discovery.
Former Saturday Night Live star Jon Lovitz, comedian Tony Hinchcliffe, and Kim Congdon also make appearances. Hinchcliffe reportedly portrays Satan.
Social media personality Indy Bugg plays Barr’s granddaughter after Academy Award-winning actress Mo’Nique recommended the young performer for the role.
Roseanne Barr on her Podcast – YouTube, Roseanne Barr
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Barr developed the series alongside former Roseanne writer Allan Stephan and Allen Covert, a longtime collaborator of Adam Sandler.
Speaking with Page Six, Barr expressed confidence that her new project could capture the same spirit that made her original sitcom a television phenomenon.
“It’s every bit as revolutionary as The Roseanne Show, if not more, and my work has improved with time,” Barr declared.
Barr’s Return Comes Eight Years After Her Controversial Firing
Barr’s television comeback follows one of the most widely publicized controversies in modern entertainment.
In March 2018, ABC premiered a revival of Roseanne, bringing the beloved working-class Conner family back to television more than two decades after the original series concluded.
The revival was an immediate commercial success.
Its premiere attracted approximately 18 million viewers, making it one of the biggest scripted television debuts in years. The revival subsequently finished its first season as television’s highest-rated scripted primetime program among adults aged 18–49.
Roseanne Barr laughs at the Comedy Central Roast of Roseanne – YouTube, Comedy Central UK
Despite those extraordinary numbers, ABC abruptly canceled the program in May 2018 after Barr posted a controversial tweet concerning Valerie Jarrett, a former adviser to President Barack Obama.
Barr’s post compared Jarrett to the offspring of the Muslim Brotherhood and Planet of the Apes. The comedian subsequently apologized and maintained that she had not known Jarrett was Black.
ABC nevertheless terminated its relationship with Barr.
The network eventually reworked the revival into The Conners, continuing the story of the fictional family without its original star.
The decision generated significant controversy, particularly because ABC had canceled one of its most commercially successful programs.
Roseanne Barr in an interview – YouTube, Bunnie Xo
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While Barr’s comments were widely criticized, the severity of the network’s response became part of a broader debate about cancel culture, corporate accountability, and whether entertainers should permanently lose their careers over offensive statements.
Eight years later, Barr appears determined to demonstrate that her television career is not finished.
Roseanne Barr Promises Comedy That Makes Fun of Everyone
Although Barr has become increasingly associated with conservative political commentary, she insists Meemaw will not exclusively cater to Republican audiences.
Instead, the comedian wants to recapture the irreverent humor that made her original sitcom successful.
“My daughters are super woke and of course I love them, so I put in jokes for them, too, like I did on Roseanne,” Barr explained to Page Six.
She also promised that the series would feature jokes aimed at Republicans, describing herself as an equal-opportunity satirist.
Roseanne Barr on her Podcast – YouTube, Roseanne Barr
That approach is reminiscent of the original Roseanne, which frequently explored disagreements over politics, religion, finances, and family relationships.
When the series debuted in 1988, its depiction of a financially struggling American family distinguished it from many of the more idealized sitcom households appearing on television.
The Conners argued, made mistakes, struggled to pay their bills, and frequently disagreed about important social issues.
Those conflicts were central to the show’s comedy.
Barr now hopes to introduce that same irreverent sensibility to a new generation of viewers.
Can Roseanne Barr Find a New Television Home?
While Barr has successfully completed production on Meemaw, one major question remains unanswered.
Where will audiences actually be able to watch the series?
As Entertainment Weekly reports, Meemaw has not secured a distributor, television network, or streaming platform.
Barr reportedly raised money from private investors to finance the production, which began filming in November 2025.
She also attempted to contact Elon Musk about potentially supporting the project, although she told Page Six that he never returned her calls.
Roseanne in Meemaw – Page Six
The independently financed production represents an increasingly interesting alternative for established entertainers who have struggled to secure traditional Hollywood backing.
However, completing a television series and successfully distributing it are two very different challenges.
Without a confirmed platform, there’s currently no announced premiere date for Meemaw.
Nevertheless, Barr has already achieved something noteworthy.
Eight years after losing her network sitcom, she has assembled a recognizable cast, secured independent financing, and completed an entire season of scripted television.
Whether the finished series can match the enormous popularity of Roseanne remains uncertain.
But for a comedian whose television career appeared to be over in 2018, the completion of Meemaw represents a potentially significant comeback.
And if Barr can secure distribution and attract a substantial audience, her return could provide another example of how established entertainers can build successful projects outside the traditional Hollywood studio system.
Are you going to watch Roseanne in Meemaw? Sound off and let us know!
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